Memphis (29-31) at Atlanta (19-43)
When: Monday, March 2nd, 2020
Where: State Farm Arena,
Atlanta, Georgia
Time: 7:35 ET | TV: FS Southeast
Opening Odds: Atlanta -1/238.5
The Memphis Grizzlies are starting to lose their firm grasp on the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference standings and will seek their first winning streak since before the All-Star Break when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. The battle for the final postseason spot in the West is heating up, with Memphis leading hard-charging New Orleans by 2.5 games entering Sunday’s action and three more teams within three games. The Grizzlies entered the All-Star Break with back-to-back wins but then lost five in a row after until Saturday’s stunning 105-88 blowout of the West-leading Los Angeles Lakers. The Hawks are pretty much out of the Eastern Conference playoff race, but have seen an offensive explosion in winning the last two games. Atlanta handed out 34 assists in Saturday’s 129-117 home win over Portland after laying 141 on the Brooklyn Nets the night before. The team had six players in double-digits including three with 22 or more points. The teams have split each of their last four meetings, with the home team coming out on top in each. This is the first meeting this season with the second one coming on Saturday in Memphis.
Memphis allowed an average of 122.8 points during the five-game skid but held the Lakers to 40.9 percent from the floor, including 9-of-36 from beyond the arc. Center Jonas Valanciunas had a monster game with 22 points and 20 rebounds and leads the team with 10.9 boards per contest. Point guard Ja Morant led the Grizz with 27 points and dished out 14 assists for his second straight double-double. Fellow guard Dillon Brooks contributed 24 points and is averaging 26.0 over the last three games. Memphis has a busy week before playing Atlanta again on Saturday. The Grizzlies will be at Brooklyn and Dallas on Wednesday and Friday.
Atlanta is dead-last in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage (33.2), but drained 18 versus Portland and 19 the night before versus the Nets. All-Star point guard Trae Young handed out 15 assists on Saturday to go with 25 points for his fifth consecutive double-double. Forward John Collins recorded 24 points and 10 boards Saturday and is averaging 27.8 points on 64.6 percent shooting over the last five games. Small forward followed an 0-for-8 night on Wednesday versus Orlando with 14-of-22 from the floor over the last two games. Atlanta will be at Washington on Thursday before the rematch with Memphis.
Both of these teams have some good young talent, but it’s hard to stop this Atlanta offense right now. The Hawks have been terrific at home against the spread (19-11-1) and have won four of the last five meetings at home versus Memphis.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Monday. He is 68-53-3 on the season after a 9-2 run!
Pick: Hawks -2.5
Grizzlies are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following a ATS win.
Grizzlies are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Grizzlies are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Grizzlies are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Grizzlies are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Grizzlies are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Grizzlies are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Grizzlies are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a road underdog.
Grizzlies are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.
Hawks are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.
Hawks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Hawks are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Hawks are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 home games.
Hawks are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Hawks are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Hawks are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight up win.
Hawks are 9-20-1 ATS in their last 30 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Hawks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Monday games.
Under is 4-0 in Grizzlies last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Grizzlies last 4 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Over is 5-1 in Grizzlies last 6 games following a ATS win.
Over is 5-1 in Grizzlies last 6 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in Grizzlies last 5 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Grizzlies last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 18-7 in Grizzlies last 25 Monday games.
Under is 5-2 in Grizzlies last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-3 in Grizzlies last 10 road games.
Over is 5-0 in Hawks last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Over is 5-0 in Hawks last 5 Monday games.
Over is 17-5 in Hawks last 22 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 11-4 in Hawks last 15 games following a straight up win.
Over is 19-7 in Hawks last 26 home games.
Over is 21-8 in Hawks last 29 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 10-4 in Hawks last 14 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 17-7 in Hawks last 24 games following a ATS win.
Over is 36-16 in Hawks last 52 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 38-17 in Hawks last 55 overall.
Over is 35-16 in Hawks last 51 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Grizzlies are 6-13 ATS in the last 19 meetings in Atlanta.
Under is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Atlanta.
